Department for Transport

Railways: Nature Conservation

lord krebs: To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they are taking (1) with Network Rail to ensure that wildlife habitats on Network Rail land are preserved, and (2) to ensure that habitat value is taken into account by Network Rail when clearing vegetation.

baroness vere of norbiton: In July this year the Government published a policy statement on enhancing biodiversity and wildlife on the lineside. The statement, which was published in response to John Varley’s 2018 review of lineside vegetation management and is consistent with the Government’s sustainable development goals, sets an ambitious target for Network Rail to achieve no net loss in biodiversity on its existing lineside estate by 2024, and to achieve biodiversity net gain on each route by 2040. Network Rail is currently drawing up plans to implement the Government’s policy, which will build on its existing practice of accounting for, and where possible, enhancing habitat at the lineside as part of its statutory duty to deliver a safe and reliable railway. Once implemented, these will make Network Rail one of the UK’s most environmentally responsible land-owners.

M4: Speed Limits

lord lipsey: To ask Her Majesty's Government what calculations, if any, they have made of the savings that would result if the speed limit in roadworks on the M4 was increased from 50 to 60 miles per hour.

baroness vere of norbiton: Highways England has not assessed the specific savings of using a 60mph speed limit in the roadworks on the M4 between junctions 3 and 12. However, Highways England and its supply chain are currently assessing whether there are opportunities for this higher speed limit to be introduced on the M4. In all cases, careful consideration has to be given to the safety implications of increasing speed limits in roadworks, and not all roadworks will be suitable for a higher speed limit.

Monarch Airlines: Insolvency

lord myners: To ask Her Majesty's Government how many matters are outstanding in calculating the cost to taxpayers of repatriating Monarch Airlines passengers to the United Kingdom; whether independent accountants have been appointed and given access to papers in order to assist in calculating that cost; and what enquiries have been made to Greybull and its associates in the last year about the collapse of that airline.

baroness vere of norbiton: The calculation of the final cost to the taxpayer of repatriating Monarch Airlines passengers will depend on the outcome of the administration process, which is not due to conclude until October 2020. As such, the Department for Transport has not appointed independent accountants nor given them access to associated paper work at this time. Discussions with Greybull in relation to recovering the costs of the repatriation operation have been in writing. Ministers last wrote to Greybull on this matter on 5 December 2018.

Parking Offences: Pedestrian Areas

lord hunt of kings heath: To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have to introducelegislation to make obstructive pavement parking a civil offence enforced by local authorities.

baroness vere of norbiton: Some offences relating to the parking of vehicles have not been decriminalised and remain enforceable by the police in all circumstances, whether a local authority has civil parking enforcement powers or not. This includes leaving a vehicle in a position where it causes an unnecessary obstruction (the ‘unnecessary obstruction’ offence). The Department for Transport completed a review of pavement parking in England looking at the extent of the problem, the effectiveness of the current legislation and options for change. The Department for Transport is considering the conclusions of the Transport Select Committee’s recent inquiry into pavement parking, alongside the findings of its own evidence review, before deciding upon a course of action to tackle the problem of pavement parking.

Parking Offences: Pedestrian Areas

lord hunt of kings heath: To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they intend to take to deal withissues relating topavement parking.

baroness vere of norbiton: Earlier this year, the Department for Transport completed a review of pavement parking in England looking at the extent of the problem, the effectiveness of the current legislation and options for change. This review concluded shortly before the announcement of the Transport Select Committee’s inquiry into pavement parking in April 2019. The Department for Transport is considering the conclusions of the Transport Select Committee’s inquiry, alongside the findings of its own review, before deciding upon any course of action to tackle the problem of pavement parking.

Parking Offences: Pedestrian Areas

lord hunt of kings heath: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessmentthey have made of the impact of pavement parking on thesafety of pedestrians.

baroness vere of norbiton: In early 2019, the Department for Transport completed a review of pavement parking in England looking at the extent of the problem, the effectiveness of the current legislation and options for change. Department officials consulted with a wide range of stakeholders, including Guide Dogs, The Royal National Institute of Blind People and Living Streets, to ensure the safety of pedestrians was considered in the review process. The review concluded shortly before the announcement of the Transport Select Committee’s inquiry into pavement parking in April 2019. The Department for Transport is considering the conclusions of the Transport Select Committee’s inquiry, alongside the findings of its own review, before deciding upon any course of action to tackle the problem of pavement parking.

Road Traffic Offences: Pedestrian Areas

lord hunt of kings heath: To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to remind the public that driving on the pavement is illegal.

baroness vere of norbiton: The Highway Code states that you must not drive on or over a pavement, footpath or bridleway except to gain lawful access to property, or in the case of an emergency. Also, drivers must not park partially or wholly on the pavement in London, and should not do so elsewhere unless signs permit it. Parking on the pavement can obstruct and seriously inconvenience pedestrians, people in wheelchairs or with visual impairments and people with prams or pushchairs.

Buses: Greater London

lord hylton: To ask Her Majesty's Government what discussions they have had, or intend to have, with Transport for London about the restrictions and limitations which exist for sight-seeing buses and coaches, in particular regard to (1) exhaust emissions, (2) travelling in central London during rush hours, (3) stopping and parking on double single yellow lines, and (4) using existing bus routes; and whether they will place a copy of any response in the Library of the House including details on the enforcement of any restrictions imposed.

baroness vere of norbiton: Transport in London is devolved to the Mayor of London and delivered by Transport for London. The Mayor is responsible for determining which types of vehicles are restricted from operating in Central London at certain times of day. The Mayor also determines the policy for the Ultra Low Emission Zone in Central London and the emissions levels for complaint vehicles. Ministers and officials at the Department for Transport have regular meetings with the Mayor’s office and Transport for London where a variety of topics are discussed, including emissions.

Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy

Thomas Cook: Insolvency

lord myners: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the actions of financial and other advisers to Thomas Cook Group in seeking the payment of fees before the Group collapsed; what plans they have, if any, to launch an investigation into such actions; and whether such an investigation will examine whether these actions constituted an act of fraudulent preference to the disadvantage of UK taxpayers.

lord duncan of springbank: The Business Secretary has written to the Insolvency Service to ask them to prioritize and fast-track their investigation into the circumstances surrounding Thomas Cook going into liquidation. Under the Insolvency Act 1986, the Official Receiver as liquidator may seek to overturn a range of transactions made prior to the liquidation, for example where preference payments have been made to a creditor/s or where a transaction is to the detriment of creditors.

British Business Bank

lord myners: To ask Her Majesty's Government what proportion of loans made by the British Business Bank and sourced from peer-to-peer platforms have defaulted.

lord duncan of springbank: Since 2014, the British Business Bank has invested over £2.18bn via peer-to-peer platforms, benefitting over 19,617 SMEs (as at March 2019).The default rate in the British Business Bank’s peer-to-peer platform investments is commercially sensitive information.

Individual Voluntary Arrangements

lord kennedy of southwark: To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have to assess the adequacy of regulations in regard to Individual Voluntary Arrangements.

lord duncan of springbank: The Government is currently assessing the regulatory framework for insolvency practitioners, which will include those responsible for delivering individual voluntary arrangements. In its recently closed Call for Evidence, Government sought views on the effectiveness of the current regulatory regime and whether there should be further consultation on changes to the system. The Government’s response to the consultation will be published in due course.

Foreign and Commonwealth Office

Li Ming-Che

lord alton of liverpool: To ask Her Majesty's Government what representations they have made to the government of China about the case of Lee Ming-Che, a Taiwanese citizen, who was sentenced to five years in prison for calling for democratic change in China on the internet; and what response they have received.

lord ahmad of wimbledon: We continue to follow the case of Lee Ming-Che through our Embassy in Beijing. We have not raised this specific case with our Chinese counterparts, however, we do regularly bring up human rights issues when having discussions with our Chinese interlocutors.We regularly make clear our concerns about the increasing restrictions on civil and political rights and freedom of expression in China. In late 2018 we contributed to the Universal Periodic Review on China, including questions on the treatment of prisoners. We call on China to release those individuals detained for seeking to protect the rights of others. We also continue to highlight our concerns about the Foreign Non-Governmental Organisation law, restrictions of freedom of religion and belief, LGBT rights, the death penalty and the treatment of ethnic minorities.

Li Ming-Che

lord alton of liverpool: To ask Her Majesty's Government what representations they have made, and intend to make, to the government of China about the (1) treatment of Lee Ming-Che in, and (2) conditions of, Chishan prison in China.

lord ahmad of wimbledon: We continue to follow the case of Lee Ming-Che through our Embassy in Beijing. We have not raised this specific case with our Chinese counterparts or brought up conditions in this particular prison; however, we do frequently bring up human rights issues when having discussions with our Chinese interlocutors.We regularly make clear our concerns about the increasing restrictions on civil and political rights and freedom of expression in China. In late 2018 we contributed to the Universal Periodic Review on China, including a question on the treatment of prisoners. We call on China to release those individuals detained for seeking to protect the rights of others. We also continue to highlight our concerns about the Foreign Non-Governmental Organisation law, restrictions of freedom of religion and belief, LGBT rights, the death penalty and the treatment of ethnic minorities.

Syria: Minority Groups

lord alton of liverpool: To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to assist other national partners in planning an exit strategy for Christians, Yazidis and other minorities in north east Syria who may face genocide.

lord ahmad of wimbledon: The Department for International Development has been engaging with the UN and NGOs on contingency plans in the northeast Syria to ensure that they are all doing what they can to assist those who need humanitarian assistance. We have called on all parties in north-east Syria to respect their obligations towards civilians and under International Humanitarian Law.

Egypt: Detainees

lord hylton: To ask Her Majesty's Government what representations they have made to the government of Egypt about the 2,285 persons detained since 29 September, mostly without trial, who are being held in prisons, police stations and state security camps, often with insufficient food, water and sanitation, or access for their families.

lord ahmad of wimbledon: The UK regularly raises human rights with the Egyptian authorities, including concerns about extended pre-trial detention and prison conditions. We continue to urge the authorities to ensure that all detainees are treated in accordance with relevant international human rights standards. We have raised specific concerns about the recent arrests at a senior level in London and Cairo, most recently on 17 October. We will also use the opportunity of Egypt’s Universal Periodic Review on 13 November to press the Egyptian Government to take action to address prison conditions and guarantee rights to freedom of expression.

Egypt: Detainees

lord hylton: To ask Her Majesty's Government what action, if any, they are taking about the case of Mr Alaa Abd El Fattah and his lawyer Mr Mohamed El-Baqer, both arrested in Egypt on 29 September.

lord ahmad of wimbledon: We are concerned about the arrest of activist Alaa Abd El Fattah and his lawyer Mohammed El-Baqer, including reports that they have been mistreated in prison. Officials in Cairo raised both of these cases with the Egyptian authorities on 3 October.

Egypt and Iraq: Demonstrations

lord hylton: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the simultaneous protests and demonstrations in Egypt and Iraq, the latter of which has resulted in 100 civilian deaths.

lord ahmad of wimbledon: Egyptians have repeatedly demonstrated their desire for a secure, prosperous, and democratic country since the revolution of 2011. In that context, we look forward to protection of Egyptians' constitutional rights, freedom of expression and more space for Non-Governmental Organisations and civil society. We believe that these rights and freedoms are essential for Egypt’s long-term stability. We have raised specific concerns with the Egyptian authorities about the large number of arrests that followed the demonstrations in Egypt on 20 September.We are also closely monitoring the situation in Iraq. The UK continues to support the Iraqi government to deliver on the legitimate demands of the protestors for jobs, services and tackling corruption. We have made clear our concerns over the use of force. Foreign and Commonwealth Office Middle East Minister, Andrew Murrison, released a statement on 3 October emphasising the right to peaceful protest. The Foreign Secretary spoke to Prime Minister Abdul Mehdi on 9 October to express UK concerns about the security response and push for the Government to take concrete action to respond to protesters’ concerns. Lord Ahmad also spoke to Foreign Minister Al-Hakim on 10 October to underline these points.

Algeria: Churches

lord hylton: To ask Her Majesty's Government what representations they have made to the government of Algeria following the closure of a Christian church at Boghni, the eighth such closure since 2017.

lord ahmad of wimbledon: ​We are concerned by reports of church closures in Algeria, including the recent closure in Boghni. We continue to engage with the Algerian authorities on this issue, including raising the importance of freedom of religion or belief as set out in Algeria’s Constitution, and the need to ensure that Algeria’s laws and processes allow the freedom to practise one’s religion or belief. We also remain in close contact with faith groups, including churches, in Algeria. We will continue to monitor the situation, as the promotion and protection of freedom of religion or belief around the world remains a high priority for the UK.

Iran: Foreign Relations

lord maginnis of drumglass: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of reports that Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has called on revolutionary guards commanders to prepare themselves for “big events”; and how they intend to respond to such reports.

lord ahmad of wimbledon: We are aware of these reports. We have long expressed our deep concerns about the destabilising activity of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) both within and outside Iran, including its illicit economic activity and its role in Iran’s ballistic missile development and support to militant and proscribed groups around the region. We call on Iran urgently to cease all forms of destabilising activity. As E3 leaders said in their 23 September statement, “the time has come for Iran to accept negotiation on a long-term framework for its nuclear programme as well as on the issues related to regional security, including its missile programme and other means of delivery”.

Palestinians: Travel Restrictions

baroness tonge: To ask Her Majesty's Government what representations they have made to the government of Israel concerning Palestinians who live on the Jerusalem side of the separation barrier, are denied entry into Jerusalem without permits and have no freedom of movement in and out of the West Bank.

lord ahmad of wimbledon: ​We remain deeply concerned about restrictions on freedom of movement and the severe difficulties of access to Jerusalem for Palestinians from the West Bank and residents of Jerusalem who live beyond the Separation Barrier. It remains difficult for Palestinians to enter East Jerusalem for work, education, medical treatment, or religious worship. Through our Embassy in Tel Aviv we have lobbied the authorities on this issue of movement and access and we will continue to lobby the Government of Israel at the highest level.

Israel: Palestinians

baroness tonge: To ask Her Majesty's Government what is their response to the letter from Lawyers for Palestinian Human Rights to Dr Andrew Murrison MP, Minister for the Middle East and North Africa, on 24 September regarding the recent fatal shooting of a Palestinian woman at Qalandiya military checkpoint.

lord ahmad of wimbledon: This letter has been received and a reply will be sent shortly. The UK remains concerned about the use of live ammunition and excessive force by the Israel Defense Forces. We regularly call on Israel to abide by its obligations under international law and have a dialogue on legal issues relating to the occupation, including the importance of Israel's security forces providing appropriate protection to the Palestinian civilian population.

Palestinians: Prisoners

baroness tonge: To ask Her Majesty's Government what representations they will make to the government of Israel regarding allegations of torture of Palestinian prisoners in Israeli Administrative Detention including the case of Samer Arbeed.

lord ahmad of wimbledon: ​The British Government has concerns about mistreatment of Palestinian detainees in Israeli prisons, and about Israel's respect of its obligations in this regard, as an Occupying Power, under applicable international law. We remain concerned about Israel's extensive use of administrative detention which, according to international law, should be used only when security concerns makes this absolutely necessary rather than as routine practice and as a preventive rather than a punitive measure. We continue to call on the Israeli authorities to comply with their obligations under international law and either charge or release detainees.

Gaza: Fisheries

baroness tonge: To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they will take to protect fishermen in Gaza from nonproportional force being used against them by the Israeli navy for transgressing the Israeli imposed fishing zone.

lord ahmad of wimbledon: ​The UK remains concerned about the use of live ammunition and excessive force by the Israel Defense Forces. While Israel has the right to self-defence, it is vital that its actions are proportionate and seek to avoid civilian casualties. We regularly raise with the Government of Israel the urgent need to ease all access and movement restrictions on Gaza, including fishing limits. This would help to restore the fishing industry as regular alterations to the zone, often as a punitive measure, cause uncertainty and insecurity. The UK would like to see a permanent increase in the size of the fishing zone off the coast of Gaza in line with the limit of 20 nautical miles stipulated in the Oslo accords.

Palestinians: Christianity

baroness tonge: To ask Her Majesty's Government what is their assessment of the prospects for Palestinian Christians living in East Jerusalem and the West Bank.

lord ahmad of wimbledon: ​Our Embassy in Tel Aviv and Consulate General in Jerusalem raise issues of religious freedom with the Israeli government and Palestinian Authority. The UK recognises that Jerusalem holds particular significance for many groups, especially the three Abrahamic faiths.

Israel: Bedouin

baroness tonge: To ask Her Majesty's Government what is their assessment of the plan by Israeli authorities to relocate 36,000 Israeli Bedouin into camps.

lord ahmad of wimbledon: ​We are aware of the Israeli Government's plan to relocate Bedouin into towns in the south of Israel. The UK calls on the Israeli authorities and Bedouin community to work together to find a solution that meets the needs and respects the rights of the people affected. This should include a robust planning process that adequately consults and addresses the needs of Israel's Bedouin communities.

Genocide: Srebrenica

lord bourne of aberystwyth: To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have to commemorate the 25th anniversary of the genocide at Srebrenica.

lord ahmad of wimbledon: ​Although plans are not confirmed at this stage, Her Majesty's Government intends to support events commemorating the 25th anniversary of the genocide in Srebrenica and will attend ceremonies in Bosnia and Herzegovina and the United Kingdom. In so doing, we will work closely with civil society groups in the region and charities such as Remembering Srebrenica. The United Kingdom remains committed to helping the region overcome the legacy of past conflict and build a more peaceful, prosperous and stable future for all. That includes continuing to strive for justice for the victims and survivors and to counter and condemn any efforts to deny what took place in Srebrenica.

Pakistan: Minority Groups

lord alton of liverpool: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessmentthey have made of the joint report by the APPG for the Pakistani Minorities and the APPG for International Freedom of Religion or Belief Religious minorities of Pakistan: report of a parliamentary visit,published on 9 September.

lord ahmad of wimbledon: We remain concerned about continuing reports of discrimination against religious minorities in Pakistan. The Government strongly condemns the persecution of all minorities, including the targeting of innocent people based on their beliefs. We regularly raise our concerns about the use of the blasphemy laws with the Pakistani Government at a senior level. The British Government continues to urge Pakistan to honour its human rights obligations, including those related to religious minorities, and to uphold the rule of law.​

Mozambique: Elections

lord jones of cheltenham: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the conduct of the recent elections in Mozambique.

lord ahmad of wimbledon: ​The elections on 15 October represented an important milestone in Mozambique’s journey to consolidate peace and democracy, following signature of a new peace agreement earlier this year. We commend Mozambique for delivering largely orderly elections against a challenging backdrop of two cyclones earlier this year. We are concerned however by irregularities and episodes of violence and intimidation during the campaign period, as flagged in the preliminary findings of international observer missions (including Commonwealth, EU and the US). Free and fair elections are fundamental to a peaceful and stable Mozambique. We condemn all instances of electoral related violence, and urge all sides to settle disputes peacefully through the appropriate legal processes.

Burma: Rohingya

baroness tonge: To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to ensure justice in Myanmar for Rohingya refugees.

lord ahmad of wimbledon: We are clear that there must be accountability for the atrocities committed against the Rohingya by the Myanmar military. We continue to look at all options and work with international partners to ensure accountability. In September 2018, we worked through the UN Human Rights Council to establish a collect and preserve mechanism, this will ensure that evidence is retained for use in future prosecutions. We have used our role as penholder to raise this issue at the Security Council, including a briefing by the UN Fact Finding Mission.The UK believes that the best hope for genuine accountability and reconciliation is a credible domestic process. We continue to push the Government of Myanmar to ensure that the domestic independent commission recognises human rights violations committed in Rakhine State. This would lay the groundwork for future accountability processes.

Burma: Rohingya

baroness tonge: To ask Her Majesty's Government what consideration they have given to imposing sanctions on Myanmar until perpetrators of human rights abuses against the Rohingya have been brought to justice.

lord ahmad of wimbledon: The UK was instrumental in delivering the EU's targeted sanctions on fourteen individuals responsible for human rights violations in Myanmar. Further names can be added to the list. These sanctions will continue after we leave the EU. We will also be able to apply sanctions against individuals responsible for serious human rights violations under the Sanctions and Anti-Money Laundering Act 2018.We do not support the introduction of financial or trade sanctions at this stage. Targeting companies or sectors, and disrupting Myanmar's financial system, could harm economic development across Myanmar. Any sanctions on economic entities or sectors of the economy must be sufficiently targeted at the military so that they do not harm ordinary working people in Myanmar, who are among some of the poorest in the region.

Northern Ireland Office

Abortion: Northern Ireland

baroness o'loan: To ask Her Majesty's Government how they will ensure that women's safety and well-being are protected should decriminalisation of abortion in Northern Ireland lead to unregulated abortions.

baroness o'loan: To ask Her Majesty's Government what legal frameworks will be in place between 22 October 2019 and 31 March 2020 to protect health professionals in Northern Ireland with a conscientious objection to abortion.

baroness o'loan: To ask Her Majesty's Government what the legal framework for abortion in Northern Ireland will be on 31 March 2020 if a majority of Northern Ireland voters state that they are opposed to new abortion legislation.

lord duncan of springbank: The health and safety of women and girls, and clarity and certainty for the medical profession, is at the forefront of the Government’s approach in complying with the legal duty under section 9 of the Northern Ireland (Executive Formation etc) Act 2019. As the duty has now come into effect, there have been some immediate changes to the law in Northern Ireland. We do not expect there to be any additional services available ahead of the new legal framework being in place by 31 March 2020. It is important that we get the legal framework right and are confident that service provision in Northern Ireland can meet women and girls’ needs. In the meantime, women and girls resident in Northern Ireland will be able to continue to access services in England, with all costs of the procedure, including travel and, where needed, accommodation, being paid for from 22 October 2019. Healthcare professionals who have a conscientious objection should follow guidance from their professional body. We recognise that this is a sensitive issue, and consideration is being given to providing for conscientious objection in the new legal framework for access to abortion in Northern Ireland. The Government will be shortly consulting on this proposed framework.

Department of Health and Social Care

Bevacizumab

lord willis of knaresborough: To ask Her Majesty's Government, if Avastin is approved for safe use, whether it could be privately purchased for use by a patient being treated on the NHS.

baroness blackwood of north oxford: For patients receiving private and National Health Service care for the same condition, NHS and private treatment can be supervised by one healthcare team. However, patients cannot choose to mix different parts of the same treatment between NHS and private care.For example, a patient cannot have a cataract operation on the NHS and pay privately for special lens implants that are normally only available as part of private care.Instead, a patient either has both the operation on the NHS and standard NHS lens implants or pay for both the operation and implants privately.

Department for International Development

Iraq: Kurds

lord hylton: To ask Her Majesty's Government what representations they have made, or intend to make, to the Kurdistan Regional Government about the blockade of the Maxmur refugee camp; and what discussions they have had with agencies of the United Nations on the impact of the blockade, including on the health of the camp's residents

baroness sugg: The UK Government has not made any representations to the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) about the Maxmur refugee camp. Restrictions of movement are limited to Erbil. The UN Refugee Agency is negotiating with the KRG on allowing this camp population access to Erbil. We continue to monitor restrictions of movement across camp populations and regularly meet with UN agencies and the KRG to discuss the humanitarian situation inside camps. The Secretary of State has been in contact with Sir Mark Lowcock, the UN Emergency Relief Coordinator, to identify any gaps in the humanitarian response, and ensure those affected by the situation in Northeast Syria are getting the support they need.

Department for International Development: Languages

baroness coussins: To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer byLord Bates on 30 October 2018 (HL10805), whether their review of language capability and skills throughout the Department for International Development's resourcing and employee lifecycles has been completed; whether they intend to publish that review; and if so, where.

baroness sugg: The review of language capability and skills through our programme and employee lifecycles has not yet been completed. We are not currently planning to publish the review.

Burma: Rohingya

baroness coussins: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the finding in the report by Translators Without Borders The Language Lesson: What we’ve learned about communicating with Rohingya Refugees, published in November 2018, that international aid workers have over-estimated the number of people who understand Rakhine and Burmese which has exacerbated the exclusion of Rohingya in Myanmar and Bangladesh; and what assessment they have made of the impact of such estimates on their co-funded project in Myanmar.

baroness sugg: The UK supports the overall recommendations in the “The Language Lesson” report, which was co-funded by DFID. Since the report was published, access to reliable information has improved according to the latest GroundTruth Solutions survey with Rohingya in Cox’s Bazar. As a follow-up to the report, DFID has supported Translators Without Borders to undertake an innovative Myanmar/Bangladesh cross-border study to examine the Rohingya language in-depth and analyse how language barriers impact access to services and intercommunal relations in Rakhine State and Cox’s Bazar. DFID will consider with relevant implementing partners how the findings can inform future programme and policy development. DFID has funded Translators Without Borders to engage with humanitarian actors to raise understanding of the language barriers to address needs of Rohingya. This has included training of interpreters, field workers, surveyors and management staff, and the production and dissemination of a glossary of key humanitarian terms in Rohingya language.

Department for Education

English Baccalaureate: Languages

baroness coussins: To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they have any plans to drop their targets for the uptake of modern foreign languages as part of the English Baccalaureate; and if so, why.

baroness coussins: To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have to introduce a German Excellence Programme, along the lines of the Mandarin Excellence Programme, to boost the take-up of German in state secondary schools.

lord agnew of oulton: Following the decision by the previous government in 2004 to make modern foreign languages non-compulsory at Key Stage 4, uptake at GCSE for languages decreased significantly. We want more pupils to study languages, which unlock huge opportunities in life. That is why we made languages compulsory at Key Stage 2, and included them as part of the English Baccalaureate set of subjects. Under the current government, the decline has reversed and the proportion of pupils taking languages has risen from 40% in 2010 to 47% in 2019. However, we know there is more to do. That is why we are investing millions of pounds in a range of programmes, including the MFL pedagogy pilot, a digi-mentoring scheme, and the Mandarin Excellence Programme. We will continue to listen to stakeholders and review other ways to improve take up of these important subjects, including but not limited to German.

Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government

English Language: Education

the lord bishop of durham: To ask Her Majesty's Government whether any of the funds pledged to the Integration Areas Programme in the September spending round will be used for the provision of childcare services for English for Speakers of Other Languages participants.

the lord bishop of durham: To ask Her Majesty's Government how much of the funds pledged for the Integration Areas Programme will be used for English for Speakers of Other Languages provision.

viscount younger of leckie: At the September Spending Round, it was announced that MHCLG will be provided with an additional £10 million to create a second wave of Integration Areas in 2020/21.As the Chancellor stated, MHCLG shall ensure that English language provision is a major component of these new areas - helping to support thousands of the estimated 1 million adults in the UK who do not speak English well or at all.We shall bring forward further details on this second wave of the Integration Area programme in due course.

Ministry of Defence

Defence Assistance Fund

lord scriven: To ask Her Majesty's Government how much funding, if any, they allocated from the Defence Assistance Fund to (1) Saudi Arabia, (2) Kuwait, (3) Qatar, (4) the United Arab Emirates, (5) Oman, and (6) Bahrain, in each of the last three financial years.

baroness goldie: The Defence Assistance Fund (DAF) only represents one aspect of our engagement with these nations, The DAF funding allocated to Gulf countries is shown in the following tables: CountryAllocation Financial Year (FY) 2016-17Bahrain£26,966Kuwait£24,734Oman£395,026Qatar£3,775Saudi Arabia£124,427United Arab Emirates£42,756Grand Total£617,684  CountryAllocation FY2017-18Bahrain£13,730Kuwait£85,410Oman£445,146Qatar£4,250Saudi Arabia£46,756United Arab Emirates£0Grand Total£595,292  CountryAllocation FY2018-19Bahrain£55,481Kuwait£32,995Oman£336,731Qatar£51Saudi Arabia£96,544United Arab Emirates£12,000Grand Total£533,802

Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

*No heading*

baroness jones of moulsecoomb: To ask Her Majesty's Government whether their projections of sea level rises around the UK coast have been updated to reflect the findings of the Special Report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change,The Ocean and Cryosphere in a Changing Climate, approved on 24 September.

lord gardiner of kimble: The UK Climate Projections 2018 (UKCP18), which was produced by the Met Office and other experts and co-funded by BEIS and Defra, and the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) Special Report on Oceans and Cryosphere in a Changing Climate (SROCC), both drew on the previous IPCC 5th Assessment Report data, plus more recent findings on topics such as the future contribution from the Antarctic ice sheet. Since publication of the IPCC SROCC report the Met Office have released on their website a comparison of the main global sea-level rise results in UKCP18 and SROCC.

Home Office

Immigration: British National (Overseas)

lord pendry: To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have to bring forward legislation to ensure that all holders of British National Overseas passports have the right to enter the United Kingdom to work or study.

baroness williams of trafford: Holders of British National (Overseas) passports are non-visa nationals and can apply for the right to work or study in the UK. This means that they can enter the UK for six months or less without the need to obtain a visit visa but would need to apply from outside the UK, and meet the criteria, for any work or study route. The UK continues to support the ‘One Country, Two Systems’ model underpinned by the Sino-British Joint Declaration; the immigration status of BN(O)s is part of this agreement.

Knives: Young People

lord taylor of warwick: To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans, if any, they have to prevent young people from carrying knives.

baroness williams of trafford: We are taking determined action to tackle knife crime and other serious violence, including by preventing children and young people from gaining access to knives in the first place. It is already illegal to sell knives and certain articles with blade or point to anyone under 18 in England and Wales, whether face to face or online, and the Offensive Weapons Act 2019 will further strengthen the law by stopping knives being sent to residential addresses after being bought online, unless the seller has arrangements in place with the delivery company to ensure that the product will not be delivered to a person under 18. Through the Offensive Weapons Act, we will also introduce new Knife Crime Prevention Orders which will give the police an important new tool to help them to work with both young people and adults at risk of being drawn into knife crime to steer them away from serious violence.It is vital that the police have the resources and tools they need to tackle knife crime, including possession of knives on our streets. This is why we have increased police funding by more than £1 billion this year, including council tax and the £100 million Serious Violence Fund. Through the Serious Violence Fund we have provided £63.4 million to the 18 police forces worst affected by serious violence to pay for surge operational activity, and £1.6 million to help improve the quality of data on serious violence, particularly knife crime, to support planning and operations. In addition, £35million of the Serious Violence Fund is being invested in Violence Reductions Units which will form a key component of our action to build capacity in local areas to tackle the root causes of serious violence.We have also launched a national campaign to begin to recruit 20,000 new police officers over the next three years, and we are making it easier for the police to use their important stop and search powers which is a vital tool in tackling knife possession on our streets and in our local communities.In addition, we continue to encourage all police forces to undertake a series of coordinated national weeks of action to tackle knife crime under Operation Sceptre. The latest phase of the operation took place from 17 to 22 September and included targeted stop and searches, weapon sweeps, and surrender of knives, including through amnesty bins. The operation also includes test purchase operations to identify those retailers who flout the law and sell knives to under 18s. Through our dedicated Prosecution Fund we are supporting Trading Standards to prosecute rogue retailers who repeatedly fail test purchases.We are also addressing the root causes of serious violence by investing over £220 million in early intervention projects, and as announced in the Queen’s Speech, we are bringing forward a new Bill to introduce a new legal duty on public bodies to work together to prevent and tackle serious violence.

Hate Crime: Disability

lord taylor of warwick: To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have to reduce violent hate crime towards disabled people.

baroness williams of trafford: We are taking determined action to tackle knife crime and other serious violence, including by preventing children and young people from gaining access to knives in the first place. It is already illegal to sell knives and certain articles with blade or point to anyone under 18 in England and Wales, whether face to face or online, and the Offensive Weapons Act 2019 will further strengthen the law by stopping knives being sent to residential addresses after being bought online, unless the seller has arrangements in place with the delivery company to ensure that the product will not be delivered to a person under 18. Through the Offensive Weapons Act, we will also introduce new Knife Crime Prevention Orders which will give the police an important new tool to help them to work with both young people and adults at risk of being drawn into knife crime to steer them away from serious violence.It is vital that the police have the resources and tools they need to tackle knife crime, including possession of knives on our streets. This is why we have increased police funding by more than £1 billion this year, including council tax and the £100 million Serious Violence Fund. Through the Serious Violence Fund we have provided £63.4 million to the 18 police forces worst affected by serious violence to pay for surge operational activity, and £1.6 million to help improve the quality of data on serious violence, particularly knife crime, to support planning and operations. In addition, £35million of the Serious Violence Fund is being invested in Violence Reductions Units which will form a key component of our action to build capacity in local areas to tackle the root causes of serious violence.We have also launched a national campaign to begin to recruit 20,000 new police officers over the next three years, and we are making it easier for the police to use their important stop and search powers which is a vital tool in tackling knife possession on our streets and in our local communities.In addition, we continue to encourage all police forces to undertake a series of coordinated national weeks of action to tackle knife crime under Operation Sceptre. The latest phase of the operation took place from 17 to 22 September and included targeted stop and searches, weapon sweeps, and surrender of knives, including through amnesty bins. The operation also includes test purchase operations to identify those retailers who flout the law and sell knives to under 18s. Through our dedicated Prosecution Fund we are supporting Trading Standards to prosecute rogue retailers who repeatedly fail test purchases.We are also addressing the root causes of serious violence by investing over £220 million in early intervention projects, and as announced in the Queen’s Speech, we are bringing forward a new Bill to introduce a new legal duty on public bodies to work together to prevent and tackle serious violence.

Cabinet Office

Joint Ministerial Committee

lord foulkes of cumnock: To ask Her Majesty's Government who attends on their behalf meetings of the Joint Ministerial Committees with the (1) Scottish and (2) Welsh Governments.

the earl of courtown: Attendees at meetings of the Joint Ministerial Committees (JMCs) vary depending on the meeting and agenda.At the last meeting of JMC(Plenary) (JMC(P)) on 19 December 2018, the UK Government was represented by: the then Prime Minister, Rt Hon Theresa May, MP, the then Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, Rt Hon David Lidington MP, the Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union, Rt Hon Stephen Barclay MP, the then Secretary of State for Scotland, Rt Hon David Mundell MP, the Secretary of State for Wales, Rt Hon Alun Cairns MP, and the then Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, Rt Hon Karen Bradley MP. The communique can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/joint-ministerial-committee-communique-19-december-2018At the last meeting of the JMC(EU Negotiations) (JMC(EN)) the UK Government was represented by: The Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, Rt Hon Michael Gove MP; the Minister of State for Exiting the European Union, Lord Callanan; The Parliamentary Under Secretary of State at the Northern Ireland Office, Robin Walker MP; The Secretary of State for Scotland, Rt Hon Alister Jack MP (via teleconference); and the Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Wales, Kevin Foster MP (via teleconference). The communique can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/joint-ministerial-committee-eu-negotiations-communique-10-octAt the last meeting of the Joint Ministerial Committee (Europe) (JMC(E)) on 10 October the UK Government was represented by: Lord Callanan, Minister of State for Exiting the European Union; Robin Walker MP, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Scotland and Northern Ireland; Kevin Foster MP, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Wales (via teleconference); Jake Berry MP, Minister of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government (via teleconference).

Treasury

Policy

lord bird: To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have, if any, to formally recognise and protect the interests of future generations

the earl of courtown: Accounting for the interests of future generations is a core consideration for the government. For example, in June 2019 the UK became the first major economy to legislate to end our net contribution to climate change by 2050. The government also has planned spending on childcare support of £6bn in 2019-20 and a further £4.6bn above inflation planned for schools by 2022-23. The government currently uses the “Green Book” as a frameworks to potential interventions. In line with the Green Book, decisions on all government programmes, projects or policies must be informed by the costs, benefits and risks over the whole lifetime of the intervention, including where its impact will affect future generations.

Musical Instruments: Customs

lord black of brentwood: To ask Her Majesty's Government whether, in the event of a no-deal Brexit, ATA Carnets would be required for musicians who are travelling to perform in multiple EU countries for their musical instruments which are transported either (1) as hand luggage or (2) in trucks.

the earl of courtown: In the event of the UK exiting the EU without a deal, the UK will become a single customs territory and use of an ATA Carnet will be an option for moving goods, such as exhibition stands and musical instruments, temporarily between the UK-EU. In general, ATA Carnets are one option when moving goods temporarily between customs territories. Their use is a commercial decision and should be considered alongside temporary admission / Returned Goods Relief procedures.

NHS: VAT

lord hunt of kings heath: To ask Her Majesty's Government what progress they have made with the review of the application of VAT as applied to the NHS.

the earl of courtown: At Spring Statement 2019 the Chancellor announced that the Government would carry out a review of VAT in relation to the public sector. The Government will be publishing a policy paper for public consultation in the coming months. The Government welcomes the views of public sector organisations including NHS trusts and organisations on potential changes.